Switch apparatus



Jan. 1, 1963 J. PARSTORFER ETAL 3,071,661

SWITCH APPARATUS 7 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed May 6. 1960 INVENTORS.

JOHN PARSTORFER BY I ALVIN W. GELLERT /an C flaw/ AGENT an 1963 J. PARSTORFER ETAL 3,071,661

SWITCH APPARATUS 7 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed May 6, 1960 mmvroxs. JOHN PARSTORFER ALVIN W. GELLERT 6M/f.4 buy AGENT Jan. 1, 1963 J. PARSTORFER ETAL 7 5 SWITCH APPARATUS Filed May 6, 1960 7 Sheets-Sheet 4 INVENTORS.

238 N PARSTORFER m w. GELLERT AGENT Jan. 1, 1963 J. PARSTORFER ETAL SWITCH APPARATUS '7 sheets eet 5 Filed y 6. 1960 l. v A 20 INVEN RSI JOHN PARST FER ALVIN W. GE ERT Y A ENT Jan, 1, 1963 Filed May 6. 1960 J- PARSTORFER ETAL SWITCH APPARATUS 7 Sheets-Sheet 6 INVENTORS.

JOHN PARSTORFER BY ALVIN W. GELLERT AGENT 93 1963 J. PARSTORFER ETAL 3,071,661

SWITCH APPARATUS '7 Sheets-Sheet 7 Filed May 6, 1960 INVENTORS. JOHN PARSTORFER ALVIN W. GELLERT 266 AGENT -tatcs The present invention relates to electrical switch apparatus. More particularly it has to do with rotary electrical switch apparatus for rapid switching or exchanging of programmed input-output connections from one electrical circuit to another. With still more particularity, the present invention is directed to rotary drum type switch apparatus providing for the simple and e-fiicient exchanging of switching programs.

Various forms of drum type switch apparatus have been developed in the past for providing multiple electrical input-output connections for various uses, such for example, as in automatic telephone exchanges, electrical advertising signs, etc. Such apparatus many times comprises a rotatable drum or cylinder having mounted thereon conducting or commutating segments, and wipers or brushes associated with the respective commutating segments adapted to engage the same at predetermined points in the rotation of the cylinder about its axis of rotation. Generally the programs for these switches are fixed in character or, if the program is alterable at all, it is only changed with difliculty. Such switch apparatus is comparatively bulky in construction and if it is desired to provide a relatively large number of input-output interconnections, the device becomes inconvenient in cost and too large for practical use. Additionally, when different switching combinations or different sequences of switching combinations are desired, extensive time-consuming adjustments must often be effected, making the over all device one of a relatively low order of efiiciency.

It is an important object of the present invention, herefore, to provide switching apparatus which overcomes the foregoing problems in a simple, economical and highly efiicient manner.

It is another important object of the present invention to provide switching apparatus in which the program may be quickly and easily varied at will.

It is still another object of the invention to provide rotary program switch apparatus wherein the entire switch program may be varied or changed at one time or wherein increments thereof may be changed simply and efficiently and without disassembly of the whole switch structure.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a switch of the rotary program type wherein switch programs may be selected at random from among a plurality of switch programs. W

In accordance with the foregoing objects and first briefly described herein, the invention comprises rotary program switch apparatus including an indexable rotary program drum carrying a plurality of individual detach-ably removable switch program segments disposed about the periphcry thereof. Each segment includes a plurality of electrical contacts providing preprogrammed input-output electrical circuit connections for said apparatus. A brush contact carrying frame is movably positioned adjacent the drum whereby its contacts may be moved from a retracted position out of contact with the segment contacts to an extended position engaging the contacts of the various segments when the drum is rotated, thereby to complete multiple electrical input-output circuit connections for said apparatus. Switch position sensing means is also provided and includes a distributor rotatable with said drum and a contact carrying member having contact brushes or the like positionable so as to contact Fatented Jan. 1, 1963 ice the distributor for indicatin the various switch positions thereon.

The novel features which are considered characteristic of the invention are set forth with particularity in the appended claims. The invention itself both as to its construction and its method of operation, together with additional objects and advantages thereof will be best understood from the following description of the preferred embodiment when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view of the preferred embodiment of the present invention with parts broken away;

FIG. 2 is a top plan view of the apparatus of FIG. 1 with parts broken away;

PEG. 2A is a schematic diagram of an electrical circuit for the switch apparatus of the invention;

FIG. 3 is a sectional side elevational view along the line 3-3 of FIG. 2;

PEG. 4 is a sectional side elevational view along the line 4-t of FIG. 3 illustrating the brush contact frame for the present invention;

FIG. 5 is a sectional view taken along the line 5-5 of PEG. 3;

FIG. 6 is a fragmentary sectional view of the brush structure of the present invention;

MG. 7 is a fragmentary sectional view illustrating portion of the brush structure or assembly of FIG. 6;

FIG. 8 is a detail sectional view along the line 88 of FIG. 7;

FIG. 9 is a detail sectional View along the line 9-9 of FIG. 7;

FIG. 10 is a detail perspective view of an individual brush for the present apparatus;

FIG. 11 is a View along the line 11-11 of PEG. 3 of the switch drive and position sensing mechanism of the present invention;

FIG. 12 is a sectional. View of the Geneva drive elements of the apparatus of FIG. 11;

FIGS. lZA and 13B are perspective views of the switch segment members before assembly;

FIG. 14 is a perspective view of a switch segment after the bacltplane wiring is completed;

PIG. 15A is a plan view of a portion of one of the switch segment members;

PIG. 15B is a sectional view of the member shown in PEG. 15A;

FIG. 16A is a plan view of the switch segment member of FIG. 15A with the conductive ribbon applied thereto;

FIG. 16B is a sectional view of the member shown in FIG. 16A;

FEGS. 17A and 17B are sectional views illustrating the steps in attaching the conducting ribbon to the printed wiring pads;

FIG. 18 is a plan View of a portion of one segment member illustrating a further ribbon attachment step; and

FiGS. 19 and 20 are detail views of a segment member showing the manner of welding the conductors to the pad prior to soldering.

Referring first to FIGS. 1 through 3 inclusive, it is seen that the switch apparatus in accordance with the preferred embodiment of the present invention includes a substantially cylindrical hollow, barrel or drum-like member 10, detachably engageable with and mounted for rotation upon, an upstanding compound pedestal-like supporting member 12, which is supported for rotation on a base or frame 14 of the apparatus. The drum 10 is adapted to be rotated intermittently in step by step fashion by means of a Geneva star or gear wheel 16 to which it is secured. The wheel 16 is rotatably mounted on the frame 14 and drivingly coupled through a control mechanism 18 and a gear train 2% to a drive motor 22.

Demountably disposed in spoke-like radial arrangement around and recessed within the hollow interior of the drum in a manner to be explained hereinafter are a plurality of detachably removable switch program segments 24, the purpose of which will be explained presently. Adjacent to the periphery of the drum i is disposed at pivotally retractible brush contact carrier frame assembly 26 including a plurality of banks 27 of brush contact members adapted to be engaged with and to be disengaged from the electrically conductive elements of the switch program segments 24-, as will be explained herein presently. The assembled apparatus is enclosed within a housing 28 secured in a conventional manner to the base or platform 14.

As seen most clearly in FIG. 3, the drum member 16 includes oppositely disposed annular disc-like members which together form upper and lower spaced apart drum heads 30 and 32 respectively, therefor. The upper head 30 is attached to a shallow, circular, inverted cup-shaped clamping cap member 34, an upstanding portion 36 of which projects slightly above the inner peripheral opening 38, in the member 34). Member 34 is provided with a peripheral flange 40, an inner shallow dished-out portion 42, and a central access opening 44 bordered by a concentric clearance cut-out or depression 46. The member 34 also includes a projecting radial hub 48, for purposes to be explained presently. The annular head 36 is secured to the member 34, as by bolts 50 extending into and through flange 49 and into the inner periphery 52 of the member 30.

The drum 11 includes inner and outer hollow cylindrical sleeve-like members 54 and 56 respectively, which are disposed in spaced apart concentric relation, as seen in PEG. 3. The inner sleeve member $4 has one end 58 thereof engaged over the outer peripheral surface of hub 48, as by being press-fitted thereto. The opposite end of sleeve 54 is received in a circular groove 61? disposed adjacent to the inner peripheral opening 62 of the lower drum head 32. The outer cylindrical sleeve member 56 is provided with a wide central depression or groove 64 intermediate its ends. The opposite ends 66 and 68 are received in circular grooves 711 and 72 in the upper and lower drum head 30 and 32 respectively. Bolts '74 secure the drum head members 30 and 32 to their respective opposite ends of the sleeve 56. The lower drum head 32 is provided with an aperture 75 therein, FIG. 6, intermediate the two members 54 and 56 for purposes to be explained hereinafter. As seen most clearly in FIG. 1 each of the members 3t) and 32 is provided with a plurality of spoke-like radial notches or grooves 767-6' intermediate lands 7777' respectively, disposed in confronting relation as shown, for purposes to be described hereinafter.

The compound central drive and bearing pedestal 12 includes an inner substantially cylindrical, rigid, vertically disposed post member 78 provided with a circular rim or t flange St at the lower end thereof and may be undercut at this end to provide a projecting, orienting stub shaft 82 projecting into an aperture 84 in the base 14, thereby centrally locating and supporting the entire drum assembly. The member 78 is restrained from rotation by means of a bolt 86 received through a countersunk aperture 88 in the base 14 and threaded into a hole 9b in the flanged end of member 78.

An elongated cylindrical sleeve )2 surrounds post 73 and is provided with oppositely disposed upper and lower peripheral grooves 94 and 96 respectively, opening in wardly from opposite ends thereof, into which sleeve-like bearing members 98 and 100 are press-fitted before final assembly of the apparatus. The lower enlarged end portion 192 of the member 92 is undercut to provide a hub to which the inner peripheral rim 1% of star wheel 16 is press-fitted. Wheel 16 is maintained in surface contact with the lower drum head 32 as by bolts 197 passing through openings 1 .33 in the wheel and into threaded openlugs 11% in the lower periphery 1512 of sleeve 92.

The star wheel or gear 16, PEG. 11, which in the present embodiment comprises a relatively thin, disc-like member, may be fabricated from any suitable rigid material such as Synthane-nylon fibre, laminate, etc. The outer periphery of the gear 16 is provided with a plurality of radial notches or slots 112 alternating with arcuately shaped indentations 114 forming drum indexing means, for purposes to be explained hereinafter. In the preferred embodiment herein illustrated, twenty-four notches and twenty-four indentations are employed. it should be apparent however, to those skilled in the art that other and varied combinations of indentations and notches could be used.

The upper surface 11-6 of the gear 16 is provided with milled or drilled clearance openings or depresisons 118 therein concentric with bolts 74 for the lower drum head A drum position locating pin 119, is press-fitted or otherwise disposed in the wheel 16 adjacent the portion N2 of member 92. The pin 119 is receivable in the hole in the drum thus orienting the drum on the drive means for reasons which will become more apparent as the description proceeds. The opposite or lower surface 12% of wheel 16 includes a printed circuit wiring pattern 122 fabricated in a known manner to provide a plurality of electrically conducting and insulating areas 124 and 125 respectively, thereon. A plurality of flexible wiping contacts 128, insulatingly mounted on the base 14 so as to project vertically therefrom, are biased into engagement with the printed wiring pattern 122, for purposes to be explained presently.

A pedestal cap or head piece member 130, FIG. 3, having a radial flange or lip 132 at one end thereof is provided with upper and lower oppositely disposed annular depressions or recesses 134 and 136 respectively, and a central aperture 133 extending therethrough. Bearing members 1451 and 14-2, of nylon or similar material, are press-fitted into the recesses 134 and 136 after which the member 13% is in turn press-fitted into the upper open end 144 of the sleeve $2 such that the flange 132 rests upon the top surface of the member g2. Cap is attached to the inner fixed member 78 by means of a large bolt 146 carrying a washer 148 and received in an axial "ireaded opening 15% in the member 8. A set screw 152 accessible through the opening 154 in the side wall of the sleeve 92 prevents the bolt 146 from loosening and becoming accidentally dislodged during operation of the apparatus. A plurality of apertures 156 circularly dis posed in the member 34 and concentric with openings 153 in the member 136 permit bolts 160 to engage and secure the drum 11 to the pedestal 12 for incremental or step by step rotation as will be described hereinafter.

The brush contact carrier assembly 26, as seen in FIGS. 1, 3 and 6, and earlier referred to herein, is located adjacent to the periphery of the drum 1%) in a manner such. that the banks of brush contact elements 27 may be engaged with the switch segments 24 in a manner which will become more fully apparent as the present description proceeds. The assembly 26, FIG. 4, includes upper and lower irregularly shaped members 162 and 164 disposed in spaced apart relation at one end of the frame member 14 by means of a rod or dowel 166,136. 3, secured therebetween as by screws 168 and an upstanding lockpost 17% disposed between members 162 and 164. The lower end 172 of the post 17is secured to member 164 as by means of the screw 174. The upper member 162 is provided at its rightward end 176 with an aperture 173 and a circular depression or recess 130 formed therein concentric with aperture 178 into which the upper end 182 of the: lockpost is press-fitted.

The top portion of the lockpost 174i is drilled or other-- wise hollowed interiorly lengthwise to provide an elongated chamber 134 into which a locking plunger pin 186 is slidably disposed. The lower end 188 of pin 186 is,

answer undercut to provide a short shank 190 around which the end 192 of a coil spring 1% is received so as to seat against the shoulder 1%. The opposite end 198 of the spring 194 is seated on the bottom 206 of chamber 18 The spring is pretensioned to effectively bias the plunger member 186 upwardly and outwardly from the chamber 184. A transverse opening 2&2 in the lockpost 1'70 provides sufficient vertical clearance therein to permit a horizontally disposed cross pin 2.94 secured transversely through the plunger 1&6 to be movable for a short distance vertically up and down within the chamber 184, for purposes to be described presently. The unrestrained upper end of the plunger 186 is adapted to project verti' cally out of the chamber 134 a short distance through the aperture 178 in the upper member 162.

An open substantially rectangular brush contact supporting frame M36 for the brush contacts 27, is milled or otherwise provided with an inner peripheral flange 207, for purposes to be explained hereinafter and is pivoted at its bottom leftward corner 208, FIG. 4, on a pin 21f pressfitted therein and projecting into an aperture 212 in the lower member 164-. The upper leftward corner 214- of the member 2% carries a pivot pin 216 projecting into and through an aperture 218 in the upper member 162 concentric therewith and is secured to an irregularly shaped handle or locking member 22ft as by being press fitted thereinto. The exposed end of the pin being peaned over, PEG. 4, to prevent dislodgment therefrom. The handle 220, FIG. 4, carries a pin 221 intermediate the ends thereof depending through an arcuate aperture 222, FIG. 2, in member 162 and press-fitted or otherwise secured in the top 223 of the brush frame support 236. By virtue of the foregoing construction the frame 266 is arcuately, pivotally movable by means of the handle 20% about the upper and lower pivots 216 and 21% between forward and rearward limit or stop members 224 and 226, as seen most clearly in FIG. 5.

The rightward edge portion 228 of the unsupported side of the frame 2% is provided with a release notch 230 intermediate the ends thereof. Upon depression of the plunger 186 the notch 239 permits the frame 2&6 to pass the horizontally disposed pin 204 as the release member 220 is arcuately moved, FIGS. 2 and 5, from its full line position in which the drum 1% is effectively restrained from removal from pedestal 12, accidently or otherwise, to the dotted line position in which the drum may be effectively removed and the banks of brushes 27 automat ically disengaged from contact with the switch segments 24. This novel arrangement prevents the accidental damage to the brushes which might occur if removal of the drum were attempted before the brushes were moved beyond the rotational path of the drum.

As is apparent in FIG. 5, the cross pin 2% performs a dual function in conjunction with the two stop members 224226. In the forward brush engaging position the cross pin 204'. looks the frame 206 against the stop 224 and prevents the frame 2% from being accidentally moved away from the drum it In the rearward brush disengaged position the cross pin 204 locks the frame against the rear stop member 226 thus avoiding an accidental contact of the brushes 2'] with the periphery of the drum during removal thereof.

As seen in FIGS. 5 through inclusive, the contacts of the banks of contact brushes 27 of the preferred embodiment herein described, comprise individual, substantially elongated U-shaped wire-like elements 232, FIG. 10 pro-formed and bent so that the parallel legs 234- 234- thereof are disposed in spaced apart relation throughout their length, as seen more clearly in the sectional view of FIG. 8. The free ends 236236' of the parallel legs are arcuately bowed to provide a wiping contact 238 for purposes to be explained presently. An efficient and relatively inexpensive fabrication technique is employed in the present invention to produce each of the contact brush carriers or bars 240 into which the brushes are received as will now be described in connection with FIGS. 4, 6 and 7.

Dielectric material, such for example, as epoxy resin or similar material, which may be hot or cold poured as desired, is poured into a mold, not shown, within which a row of contacts 232 are angularly oriented. For example, at 45 to the horizontal as seen in FIG. 6. The wiping contact end 238 of each member is adapted to project outwardly away from the surface of the bar 240 a sufficient distance so as to engage the contact of the switch segments as will be described later on. The U-shaped end of alternate contacts 232 is bent at right angles out of the plane of the contact as shown, thus providing means for securing the contact elements within the resinous block 240 and additionally providing a simple, inexpensive and readily accessible electrical junction point, PEG. 9, for attachment thereto of lead wires, not shown. In this manner the contact elements may each be interconnected with a junction block or other electrical connecting devices for use with associated electrical circuitry such for example as a computer. The edges 244 are provided with a double tongue and groove arrangement 2 .6 and 248 respectively, thus to form interfitting edge portions. As is clearly apparent in FIG. 6, the dielectric members 249 are identical in configuration thus reducing the cost of design and fabrication since only one set of tongues and grooves must be produced in each member 240. The difference etween the two members of FIG. 6, results from the angular orientation of the contacts, i.e., the contact elements of the uppermost member are oriented to project out of the block in a direction opposite to that of the lowermost member. As is seen in FIG. 7, when the two blocks are interfitted by means of their inter-engaging tongues and grooves and thereafter adhesively joined as by glue or other bonding material, the contact elements 232 are automatically aligned in two parallel spaced apart rows with their wiping contacts 238 oriented in the same direction thus avoiding the necessity for costly jigs, fixtures or manual adjustments on the part of the fabricator.

During construction one of the tongues 9.46 of each of the blocks is chamfered as indicated by the reference character 249 such that angular orientation of the contact elements may persist uninterruptedly in the direction toward their arcuately curved ends without interference from the mating block when the latter is engaged therewith. The foregoing structural arrangement standardizes the construction of the contact blocks which may be produced relatively Simply and efficiently. The ioined blocks are thereafter placed in the peripheral groove formed by the flan e 2(9'7 of the frame support 2'56 and attached therein as by the countersunk bolts 250. This construction provides an efficient means for changing or replacing contact elements to suit the particular purposes of the electrical circuits with which the apparatus is to be employed.

Additionally, it is to be noted that by virtue of the foregoing arrangement, as shown most clearly in H6. 2, the brush contact frame member and its handling element 229 permit easy access to the contact frame while preventing accidental dislodgement of the drum or damage to the fine wire brush contact elements. When it is desired to remove either the drum from the assembly or the segments from the drum the hold down screws 16 are removed after which the handling member is arcuately rotated from its full line to its dotted line position, PEG. 2, carrying the brush contact members out of engagement with the contact segments permitting the drum to be lifted off the pedestal 16d.

The rotary program switch apparatus Ittl is provided, as earlier described, with twenty-four program sections 24' each of which in this embodiment includes ninety-six contact elements providing a total of two-thousand three hundred and four contacts.

Referring to FIGS. 13 through 20 inclusive, wherein the switch segment fabrication and assembly steps are shown,

it is seen that each of the switch sectors or segments 24 includes a pair of dielectric members e.g., bars 251a, and 251i) which may be molded from liquid epoxy resin or machined from plastic stock in a known manner. if the casting technique is used, a copper sheet is bonded to an epoxy dielectric material at the time of casting, the epoxy thus forming an integral assembly with the copper sheet. A plurality of equally spaced notches 252--forty-eight in the present preferred embodiment are milled, molded or otherwise formed in the lower edge 254 of the bar. Another form of dielectric me ber which may be used with the present invention comprises a one-eighth inch thick copper clad phenolic sheet. in order to prevent undesirable warpage, the boards may be fashioned from sided copper clad laminate thus providing equal stress distribution. The excess copper on one side 2256 is etched away leaving a pattern of equally spaced electrically conductive areas or pads disposed thereon in rows and columns. The pads in each row are offset or displaced slightly with respect to the pads of the next adjacent row thereof. All of the copper on the opposite side are is gradually and evenly removed thus reducing the inherent stresses thereby preventing undue warpage. Thereafter each board 251 is drilled to provide an individual hole in the upper left hand corner 264 of each of the conductive pads The diagonally opposite corners 2m are angularly etched away for clearance purposes as will be more apparent hereinafter. In the present embodiment, forty-eight such holes fiftyfive thousandths diameter are provided. An electrically conductive contact forming ribbon 265, of semi-precious metal fifty-five thousandths inch wide and three thousandths inch thick is then continuously wrapped around each bar 251 in the manner now to be set forth.

As can be seen from FIGS. and 16, the rightward, progressive, upward, row by row, displacement of the pads in each member 251 permits each winding turn of the ribbon 266 to overlay a respective one of the holes 262. The ribbon 266 may be applied, by hand, in which case the starting end 268, FIG. 16, is suitably secured to the upper left hand corner of each board and thereafter the ribbon is wound spirally therearound. Each winding turn is received within a respective groove 252 and as the turns progress to the right, each turn will overlay a group of pads 258 but only a single aperture 262, thus automatically spacing the ribbon turns by a distance approximately equivalent to the thickness of the barrier or ribs between notches Z52.

Securement means for the turns of ribbon is provided by means of a wedge shaped electrically insulating bar 276 which is secured adjacent to and parallel with the notched portion of each board as shown in H6. 16A. The wedge shape permits the segments to be fitted together in radial spaced-apart relationship around the periphery of the drum iii in a manner and for a purpose which will become more apparent as the description proceeds. Thereafter the winding turns of the ribbon material are cut, as with a knife, along the edge 272 of the board permitting the unrestrained ends 27- -2 of the loops of ribbon to spring back to the left, as seen in FIG. 173, under their own tension. Thereafter the ribbon ends (forty-eight in this embodiment of the invention) are in serted into and through their respective apertures 2462, FIG. 17B, and cut to the same length as indicated by the dotted lines 276, after which each is given a quarter turn, as seen most clearly in the detailed view, HQ. 19, whereby the ends are rigidificd and thus made to be self-supporting. Each end 2'74 is then spot welded as at 278, FIG. 20, to its res ective copper pad 253. After all fortyeight ribbons have been bonded in this manner in their respective terminal pads and as seen in PEG. 14, pairs of boards 251a and 251b, which are to form the input-output segments, are provided with interconnecting wires A central longitudinal spacer member 232 of dielectric material is disposed between the members 251a. and 25L;

and is received over oppositely disposed alignment studs 284, which project outwardly from member 25112 and into and throLgh member 251a. A relatively rigid attachment and auxiliary spacing member 236 of plastic or metal material is disposed at opposite ends of the member 251b, Each member 236 is provided with a relatively deep elongated groove or channel 28% therein, for purposes to be explained presently, and is secured to the member 25117 as by bolts which pass through concentric holes in each of the members 2551a, 2% and 25th -ectively. T e members 251a and 2511b are assembled ogether compressing the wire therebetween and thereafter nuts 292 are tightened over the bolts 2%, forming the unitary switch segments 2d. Segments 24, HQ. 1 are then slid into respective upper and lower grooves in-76 in the drum periphery so that the ends 294, 29d of bars 27%.: ride over lands 77, 77" adjacent each groove. Bolts 2%, received through the channel and threaded into apertures 2% in upper and lower ends 66-623 of the outer sleeve member 556, secure the segments to the drum and prevent their accidental dislodgement or detachment therefrom when the drum is rotated by means now to be described.

The switch apparatus is driven by at Geneva type escapement mechanism, F565. 1, 2, 11 and 12, providing intermittent step by step rotation of the drum it The star drive wheel 1'6 includes the plurality of peripherally disposed notches and arcuate cutouts 112, respectively therein, PlG. 11, as earlier described. A multi-toothed drive wheel 3%, FIG. 12, having a central aperture 3'82 therein and including a circular depression 384- concentric with the aperture is press-fitted to the hub 30-5 of the disc member An upstanding discontinuous arcuate ridge or flange 3ft) integral with the hub 306 is adapted to engage the arcuate portion 1?.4 of the star wheel 16, during rotation of the latter, as will be described shortly. The disc member is rotatably mounted on the en larged hub 312 of a stub shaft 314, the undercut portion 316 of which is pressfitted into an aperture 318 in the base 14. The disc member is secured to the shaft by means of a C-ring 32% received in a groove 322 in the end 312 thereof. A drive pin secured to the drive wheel 3% and member CATS has one end projecting upwardly therefrom to be received in the slots 11 thereby to step the wheel 16 as will be more clearly set forth hereinafter.

A control switch 326, FIG. 2 is disposed adjacent to the drive motor 22 and includes an actuator arm 323 which extends arcuately away therefrom into the path of movement of the drive pin 324 and has its right end portron 339 bent to engage a stop pin 332. The output shaft 334 of the motor 22 carries a pinion 336 rotatively coupled to the output drive gear through a transfer idler gear 345). The output drive gear 333 is secured to the input shaft 341 of the control member 225, e.g., an electro-magnetic clutch (not shown). The output shaft 340 of the clutch (FIT l) is connected by a flexible coupling 342 to drive a short shaft 344 carrying a pinion 346 on its lower end in operable engagement with the Geneva drive gear 3% for rotating the same in response to energization of the drive motor 22, as will now be described.

When it is desired to operate the present rotary program switch appare us the drum id is loaded with the desired number of switch program segments 4. The loaded drum is then lowered over the pedestal 32 so that the drum position locating pin 119' is received in the aperture in the lower drum head 32. Bolts are threaded into mating openings and 58 and tightened thereby securing the drum to the pedestal. The brush holder 2-? is then moved from its retracted broken line position to its full line position, FIG. 2, wherein the electrical contact brushes 2-32 may engage and wipe across respective ones of the input and output electrical contacts of the switch segments as the drum is rotated thus to electrically interconnect different of the brushes as the drum is stepped from one to another of the segments, according to the program desired.

Referring to FIG. 2a, there is shown a schematic dia gram of an electrical circuit for operating the switch apparatus of the present apparatus. Assume that drive motor 22 is driven at a constant velocity from a source of electrical energy, not shown. Closure or" push button switch 350 will energize the winding 352 of electromagnetic clutch in the control mechanism 18 from the battery 354 over leads 356. The contacts 358 and 36% of switch 326 interposed in the circuit to the clutch winding 352 are thus caused to open and close opening the circuit to the control mechanism 18 at each revolution of the gear 309.

Rotation of gear 300 in the direction of the arrows 362 causes the ridge 310 of member 308 to rotate within the arcuate cut out 114 retaining the star wheel 16 in a stationary condition. The pin 324 as it rotates will enter the next leftward notch 112 thereafter moving wheel 16 one step clockwise in the direction of the arrow 364. Continued rotation of gear Slit) causes the pin 324 to leave notch 112 while the discontinuous ridge 31% once again engages and rides around the next cut out 114. Pin 324 then strikes actuator 328 opening contacts 358 360 deenergizing control mechanism 18 to halt the rotative advance of wheel 16.

As seen in FIGS. 2 and 5, the members 270, 282 and 25dtogether provide a substantially continuous peripheral surface over which the flexible contact members 232 may ride during rotation of the drum thus avoiding harmful contact bounce and possible damage to the switch segments 24.

The clutch Winding 352 may be controlled by information data pulses such as those supplied by an electronic computer. In this case the incremental step by step actuation of the rotary program switch is completely automatic and the transfer and handling of information is performed without human intervention.

The printed wiring pattern 122 on the lower surface of the star wheel permits the utilization of a binary coded tracking arrangement whereby other associated computation apparatus external to the present switch apparatus may sense the position of the banks of program contacts 27. The code pattern 122 also permits random selection of any particular program segment 24 simply by advancing the drum 1t unidirectionally step by step until the desired code pattern coincides with the selected code.

What is claimed is:

1. Switch apparatus comprising, a rotatable member, means to rotate said member about an axis, a plurality of electrical switch segments mounted on said rotatable member in a circular row around said axis, each of said switch segments having a plurality of switch closing elements thereon with exposed portions, a plurality of electrically conductive contacts mounted adjacent said rotatable member, and means for moving said electrical contacts between a retracted condition wherein said contacts are out of contact with said exposed portion and an advanced condition wherein said contacts are in electrically conductive engagement with the said exposed portions of successive switch closing elements when said member is rotated.

2. Switch apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said means for rotating said member includes intermittent means for causing said rotation to occur in a step by step manner whereby the switch closing elements of successive segments in said row may be brought into engagement with said contacts.

3. Switch apparatus comprising a rotatable drum, a plurality of electrical switch segments individually removably mounted in a circular row to form the periphery of said drum, each of said switch segments having a pinrality or" switch closing elements thereon with portions thereof exposed on the periphery of said drum, a plul rality of electrically conductive contacts movably mounted adjacent said rotatable drum, means for moving said electrically conductive contacts from a retracted condition away from said exposed portions to an advanced condition wherein said contacts are in engagement with the periphery of said drum, and means to rotate said drum about its axis incrementally step-by-step to engage the exposed portions of the switch closing elements of successive switch segments with said electrically conductive contacts.

4. A construction according to claim 3 wherein said step-by-step means comprises an intermittent motion mechanism.

5. Switch apparatus comprising, a base member, a rotatable member, means removably mounting said rotatable member on said base member, means to rotate said member, means for indicating the relative position of said rotatable member with respect to an arbitrarily assigned position, a plurality of electrical switch segments for said rotatable member, each of said electrical switch segments being detachably mounted on said rotatable member for movement therewith, an electrically conductive contact carrying member mounted adjacent to said rotatable member, means for moving said contact carrying member to and from a retracted and an advanced position wherein contacts are out of and in engagement with said segments respectively, and means carried by said contact carrying member for preventing removal of said drum from said base member when said contact carrying member is in said advanced position.

6. The invention according to claim 5 wherein said indicating means comprises a plurality of printed wiring members carried by said rotatable member and a plurality of electrically conductive elements disposed in electrical contact therewith.

7. Rotary switch apparatus comprising, a rotatable mernber, means coupled to said rotatable member for driving the latter in step-by-step increments, control means for effecting said incremental stepby step movement of said drive means, a plurality of switch segments, means permitting said segments to be slidably received and secured in said rotatable member, electrical input-output means for said switch segments, means to move said input-output means toward and away from said switch segments, and locking means for locking said last named means in either of the aforesaid positions.

8. This invention according to claim 7 wherein said control means comprises an electromagnetic clutch.

9. Switch apparatus comprising, a fixed base, a driven member rotatably disposed on said base, a drive member, means coupling said drive member to said driven member for incremental step-by-step movement of said driven member, a drum member detachably carried by and rotatable with said driven member, a plurality of electrical switch segments for said rotatable member, each of said electrical switch segments being radially detachably engageable with said rotatable member for movement therewith, and, an electrically conductive contact carrying member, means mounting said contact carrying member adjacent said driven member for movement to and from retracted and advanced conditions relative to said drum member thereby to move its contacts into and out of engagement with said switch segments.

10. A construction according to claim 9 and wherein said last named member includes means preventing said drum member from being removed from said driven member when said contact carrying member is in its advanced condition, yet permitting said drum member to be removed from said driven member when in said retracted condition.

11. Switch apparatus comprising, a rotatable carrier, means mounting said carrier for incremental step-by-step rotation, electrical switch segments for said carrier, sai carrier including means disposed about the periphery thereof for detachably engaging said segments for rotation therewith, each of said switch segments including a plurality of electrically conductive switch contact members, electrical input-output contact means for said carrier, said input-output means including a plurality of contact engaging elements adapted to electrically interconnect contacts of said switch segments upon rotation of said car rier member, means for positioning said input-output contact means into and out of engagement with said switch segment contacts whereby when said last means is in one of its positions the carrier member is restrained from removal from said mounting means and whereby when said last means is in another of its positions said carrier member is released for removal from said mounting means, drive means for said apparatus adapted to step said carrier member rotatably incrementally, and electromagnetic control means for said drive means operable in response to electrical pulse energy for controlling the operation of said drive means.

12. Switch apparatus comprising, a rotatable member including oppositely disposed annular rim portions each with inner and outer faces, each of the inner faces of said rim portions having a plurality of radial grooves therein, the grooves of one face confronting the grooves of the opposite face, a plurality of electrical switch segments, each switch segment including a pair of dielectric planar members disposed in confronting spaced apart parallel relation, each planar member having a plurality of electrically conductive areas thereon and a plurality of electrical contact members, electrically conductive members interconnecting the areas or" one of said planar members with the areas of the other of said opposite planar member, means to mount said segments within the grooves of said rotatable member with the electrical contacts of each segment disposed on the periphery of said rotatable member, drive means for said rotatable member, means releasably mounting said rotatable member to said drive means for rotation therewith, a plurality of banks of electrical contact means, means pivotally mounting said contact means adjacent to the periphery of said rotatable member whereby the contacts of said banks of electrical contacts are adapted to engage the contacts of said switch segments, means carried by said contact mounting means for locking said banks of contacts in electrical engagement with the contacts of said switch segments, and means to control the drive means for said rotatable member to effect a st-ep-by-step incremental rotation of the latter.

13. Switch apparatus comprising, a rotatable member having oppositely disposed peripheral rims having opposed inner faces, each of said faces being provided with a plurality of radial grooves therein, a plurality of electrical switch segments for said apparatus, each of said switch segments including a pair of confronting spaced apart dielectric panels, each of said dielectric panels including a plurality of electrical contacts thereon disposed in spaced apart relation one from another, means interconnecting the contacts of one of said dielectric panels with the contacts of the adjacent parallel dielectric panel, an electrical contact carrying frame disposed adjacent to said rotatable member, means mounting a plurality of banks of electrical switch contact elements within said frame, said banks of electrical elements including portions extendin outwardly from said frame and adapted to be flexed into engagement with the contacts of said switch segments, means pivotally mounting said frame for arcuate movement from a retracted position away from said rotatable member to a position engaging said rotatable member, means to lock said frame in either of its positions, and drive means for said switch member including electromagnetic control means for eifecting a step-by-step rotation of said rotatable member whereby the banks of electrical contacts are caused to interconnect various ones of the electrical contacts of said switch segments as said rotatable member is moved.

14. Switch apparatus comprising, a base, an upstanding pedestal rotatably mounted on said base, a driven member carried by said pedestal, a drive member operably engaging said driven member, a source of constant torque, control means coupling said source of constant torque to said drive member for effecting incremental step-bystep rotation of said driven member, a rotatable drum attached to said pedestal and drivingly coupled to said driven member for rotation therewith, a plurality of electrical input-output switch segments for said apparatus, each of said segments carrying a plurality of electrical contacts thereon and each segment being radially disposed in side by side relation with respect to each other around the periphery of said drum, an electrical contact carrying member disposed adjacent to the periphery of said drum, a dielectric contact carrier mounted on said contact carrying member and including parallel rows of electrical contact elements, portions of each of said contact elements extending outwardly away from said dielectric member toward said drum, means pivotally mounting said contact carrying member for arcuate movement toward and away from said drum whereby said contact elements may be positioned so as to intercept the path of movement of said contacts carried by said drum member, and means to lock said contact carrying member in a position out of the path of movement of said drum contacts.

15. Switch apparatus comprising, a base, an upstanding cylindrical post member mounted on said base, a cylindrical sleeve carried by and surrounding said upstanding cylindrical member, a toothed gear wheel secured for rotation to one end of said sleeve, an annular drum member having flanged ends and a recess therebetween, said drum member being mounted on said sleeve and rotatable therewith, tl e flanged ends of said annular member being provided with a plurality of radially extending lands and grooves, the lands and grooves of one of said ends confronting the lands and grooves of the other of said ends of said annular member, a plurality of electrical switch segments, each switch segment including a plurality of electrical contacts thereon, means radially mounting each of said switch segments between a respective pair of confronting grooves with the contacts of said switch segments disposed adjacent to the periphery of said annular member, an inputoutput switch contact carrying frame disposed adjacent to the periphery of said annular member, a dielectric member mounted on said frame and carrying a plurality of input-output switch contacts thereon, adapted to engage the contacts of said switch segments, means mounting said frame for arcuate movement between two stable positions toward and away from said annular member whereby the input-output contacts may be engaged with and disengaged from the switch segment contacts, means to limit the arcuate movement of said input-output switch frame, means to lock said frame in one or the other of its stable positions, toothed drive means engaging said toothed gear wheel, means coupling said drive means to a source of constant torque, and a solenoid actuated clutch coupling said drive means to said drum and effective to cause said drum member to rotate incrementally step-by-step on said base in response to the application of said constant torque.

16. Switch apparatus comprising, a base, an upstanding cylindrical post member mounted on said base, a cylindrical sleeve carried by and surrounding said upstanding cylindrical member, a toothed gear wheel secured for rotation to one end of said sleeve, an annular drum member having flanged ends and a recess therebetween, said drum member being mounted on said sleeve and rotatable therewith, the flanged ends of said annular member being provided with a plurality of radially extending lands and grooves, the lands and grooves of one of said ends confronting the lands and grooves of the other of said ends of said annular member, a plurality of electrical switch segments, each switch segment including a plurality of electrical contacts thereon, means radially mounting each of said switch segments between a respective pair of confronting grooves with the contacts of said switch segments disposed adjacent to the periphery of said an- 13 nular member, an input-output switch contact carrying frame disposed adjacent to the periphery of said annular member, a dielectric member mounted on said frame and carrying a plurality of input-output switch contacts thereon adapted to engage the contacts of said switch segments, means mounting said frame for arcuate pivotal movement between tWo stable positions toward and away from said annular member whereby the input-output contacts may be engaged with and disengaged from the switch segment contacts, means to limit the arcuate movement of said input-output switch frame, means to lock said frame in one or the other of its stable positions, toothed drive means engaging said toothed gear wheel, means cou- 14 pling said drive means to a source of constant torque, and a solenoid actuated clutch coupling said drive means to said drum and effective to cause said drum member to rotate incrementally step-by-step on said base in response to the application of said constant torque.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 552,094 Blades Dec. 31, 1895 1,726,520 Kramer Aug. 27, 1929 2,501,456 Thias et al. Mar. 21, 1950 2,943,161 Path June 28, 1960 

1. SWITCH APPARATUS COMPRISING, A ROTATABLE MEMBER, MEANS TO ROTATE SAID MEMBER ABOUT AN AXIS, A PLURALITY OF ELECTRICAL SWITCH SEGMENTS MOUNTED ON SAID ROTATABLE MEMBER IN A CIRCULAR ROW AROUND SAID AXIS, EACH OF SAID SWITCH SEGMENTS HAVING A PLURALITY OF SWITCH CLOSING ELEMENTS THEREON WITH EXPOSED PORTIONS, A PLURALITY OF ELECTRICALLY CONDUCTIVE CONTACTS MOUNTED ADJACENT SAID ROTATABLE MEMBER, AND MEANS FOR MOVING SAID ELECTRICAL CONTACTS BETWEEN A RETRACTED CONDITION WHEREIN SAID CONTACTS ARE OUT OF CONTACT WITH SAID EXPOSED PORTION AND AN ADVANCED CONDITION WHEREIN SAID CONTACTS ARE IN ELECTRICALLY CONDUCTIVE ENGAGEMENT WITH THE SAID EXPOSED PORTIONS OF SUCCESSIVE SWITCH CLOSING ELEMENTS WHEN SAID MEMBER IS ROTATED. 